FLUID TRANSFER MECHANISM

• US 20090305431A1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Biosensors Pty Ltd. (Universal Biosensors, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Universal Biosensors Pty Ltd. (Universal Biosensors, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chatelier, Ronald Christopher, Hodges, Alastair Mcindoe, Chambers, Garry
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/174
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/008 Multi-layer fabrications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2099/0086 Medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0017 Capillary or surface tension valves, e.g. using electro-wetting or electro-capillarity effects
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0025 Valves using microporous membranes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A microfluidic device for transferring liquid from a first chamber to a second chamber is provided. The device has a first chamber; a second chamber; and a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber, the barrier having least one opening fluidly connecting the first chamber to the second chamber, the at least one opening being sized such that a retention force, such as surface tension, keeps the liquid in the first chamber. The fluid is transferred from the first chamber to the second chamber when an initiation input such as fluid pressure is introduced to the liquid that is sufficient to overcome the retention force. The device may be a sensor strip.

Claims

1. A fluid transfer device for transferring liquid from a first chamber to a second chamber, the device comprising:

a first chamber;

a second chamber; and

a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber, the barrier having at least one opening fluidly connecting the first chamber to the second chamber, the at least one opening being sized such that a retention force keeps the liquid in the first chamber,

wherein the fluid is transferred from the first chamber to the second chamber when an initiation input is introduced to the liquid that is sufficient to overcome the retention force.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the retention force is surface tension of the liquid at the at least one opening.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the initiation input is fluid pressure applied to the liquid in the at least one opening and in a direction from the first chamber to the second chamber.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second chamber has an inner surface and an outer surface, and

the initiation input is pressure applied to the outer surface of the second chamber such that the inner surface of the second chamber contacts the liquid in the at least one opening and causes the liquid to flow through the at least one opening into the second chamber.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a sensor strip,

the first chamber is a reaction chamber of the sensor strip, and

the second chamber is a detection chamber of the sensor strip.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a third chamber;

and

a second barrier between the second chamber and the third chamber, the second barrier having at least one opening fluidly connecting the second chamber to the third chamber, the at least one opening in the second barrier being sized such that a second retention force keeps the liquid in the second chamber,

wherein the fluid is transferred between the second chamber and the third chamber when a second initiation input is introduced to the liquid that is sufficient to over come the second retention force.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the second retention force is surface tension of the liquid at the at least one opening in the second barrier.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the second initiation input is fluid pressure applied to the liquid in the at least one opening in the second barrier and in a direction from the second chamber to the third chamber.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the third chamber has an inner surface and an outer surface, and

the second initiation input is pressure applied to the outer surface of the third chamber such that the inner surface of the third chamber contacts the liquid in the at least one opening in the second barrier and causes the liquid to flow through the at least one opening in the second barrier into the third chamber.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is a sensor strip,

the first chamber is a reaction chamber of the sensor strip,

the second chamber is a transfer and reaction chamber of the sensor strip, and

the third chamber is a reaction chamber of the sensor strip.

11. A method of transferring liquid from a first chamber to a second chamber, comprising:

providing a first chamber;

providing a second chamber;

providing a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber, the barrier having at least one opening fluidly connecting the first chamber to the second chamber, the at least one opening being sized such that a retention force keeps the liquid in the first chamber; and

transferring the liquid from the first chamber to the second chamber,

wherein the transferring takes place when an initiation input is introduced to the liquid that is sufficient to over come the retention force.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the retention force is surface tension of the liquid at the at least one opening.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the initiation input is fluid pressure applied to the liquid in the at least one opening and in a direction from the first chamber to the second chamber.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the initiation input is pressure applied to an outer surface of the second chamber such that an inner surface of the second chamber contacts the liquid in the at least one opening and causes the liquid to flow through the at least one opening into the second chamber.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first chamber is a reaction chamber of a sensor strip, and

the second chamber is a detection chamber of the sensor strip.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising

providing a third chamber;

providing a second barrier between the second chamber and the third chamber, the second barrier having at least one opening fluidly connecting the second chamber to the third chamber, the at least one opening in the second barrier being sized such that a second retention force keeps the liquid in the second chamber; and

transferring the liquid from the second chamber to the third chamber,

wherein the transferring between the second chamber and the third chamber takes place when a second initiation input is introduced to the liquid that is sufficient to over come the second retention force.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second retention force is surface tension of the liquid at the at least one opening in the second barrier.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second initiation input is fluid pressure applied to the liquid in the at least one opening in the second barrier and in a direction from the second chamber to the third chamber.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second initiation input is pressure applied to an outer surface of the third chamber such that an inner surface of the third chamber contacts the liquid in the at least one opening in the second barrier and causes the liquid to flow through the at least one opening in the second barrier into the third chamber.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first chamber is a reaction chamber of a sensor strip,

the second chamber is a transfer and reaction chamber of the sensor strip;

and

the third chamber is a reaction chamber of the sensor strip.